Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-11-19
A SHORT HISTORY
OF St. Dominic's Church.

Nhuiei VI Aoltiani- VIII De read with interest
by the former parishioners and friends of
Father John W Murphy:
Early in the year 1922, the Catholics in the
town OF Portland numbered eight families
ana -FOUR unmarried young men, aggregating
thirty persons.
Responding to a petition addressed by
them to the Bishop of the Diocese of Boston
then embracing the New England States
---for the illustrations of a priest to their
spiritual wants, the Right Rev John Cheverus
visited them at the date mentioned remained
few days in their midst, accomplishing the
organization of the first Catholic congregation
in Portland
Tins was effected, and the first mass of
which there is any authentic information
was celebrated by bishop Cheverns. in the
house OF one of the Catholic families, that of
Nicholas Shea The location of the house
was the northwesterly side of Fore street.
between Exchange and Plum streets.
From this time until September, 1927.
Portland was regarded as an OUTLYING mission
visited at stated times by Rev Dennis RYAN
who was charged with more important and
numerous congregation at Whitefeld In
the interval, the future ST. Dominic's con-
gregation having received accessions out
dwelling house, the time was at hand to
warrant the assignment of permanent spiritual
director, and more commodious place for
divine worship.
Accordingly, in September, 1927. Bishop
Fenwick, the successor of Bishop Cheyerus
who, in October 1923, had been translated to
the Sea of Bordeaux, France made vista
ton to Portland. accompanied by the Rev
Charles ID. Ffrench, a Dominican to whom
was given the charge of the young flock
Upon Father French assuming the duties
of pastor IN Portland, the celebration of the
Holy Sacrifice at the house of Mr.. Shea was
discontinued, and a large room was hired on
an upper floor in the building then known as
the Museum, on Hay Market Row, now
Market Square. portion of the room is
now occupied as Chambers Band rooms
In 1928, movement was commenced, with
view of erecting church at some available
location, and a subscription list was opened
many Protestant gentlemen of Portland and
Catholics of Boston contributing thereto A
building committee Messrs. John Crease.
John Conner and Dennis Mccarthy the
priest, and they decided the title of the new
church to be "St. Dominic's"
March, 1880, the title to the site of the
present edlhce on State street was conveyed
to Father French, by John Fox Esq. Opera
tons were Immediately commenced, and the
very modest brick structure, about % feet
long and wall 10 feet high plain gables with
no pretentlous tower to rear aloft the emblem
of mans salvation, was pushed forward so
rapidly that the congregation were reioiced to
be able to vacate the place in Hay Market
Row" and TO celebrate the Feast of All
Saints within the walls erected by their will
inc han ttu int ~
however before the summer of 1888 for in
August of this year, it was solemnly dedicated
by Rt. Rev. Bishop Fenwick assisted by
Father French and two other priests
At the conclusion of the ceremonies
of dedication, the Bishop Clergy and
certain distinguished converts to the church
were entertained at Il sumptuous dinner by
Judge Preble, served under an awning in
the spacious grounds attached to his resi-
dence, now known as the Churchill prop
erty," corner State and Danforth streets
The Catholic population, which numbered
about one hundred and fifty souls when the
work was begun, had risen to nearly double
when the little church was dedicated In
1889, Father Ffrench, for reasons of health,
was obliged to relinqush his charge, and
retire to Ireland for brief rest, returning to
Lawrence, Mass, where few years later,
the first pastor of st. Dominic's church
passed to his eternal reward.
Since the completion of the church in order
to provide sufficient accommodation for the
constantly increasing congregation, it has I'M
derwent two or three notifications first UNI
der Father Mcguire in 1913 secondly, "A few
years later, under Father O'Donnell; and
more recently in 1859, when the interior was
remodeled, and the new front after the med
Al. L.
troduced by the late Bishop Bacon, first
Bishop of Portland.
1t was in st. Dominic's of halowed memo
ries, on the 3lst of May, lS55 the installation
ceremonies took place when the late Bishop
Fitzpatrick, of Boston, indicted Ri Rev. d.
W Bacon, ID. D., into his newly created See
of Portland To the congregation of st.
Dominic's this was an event of very great
importance, the like of which in all probable
ty will not again transpre within the old, or
will the new St Domnic's behold within its
sacred precincts.
Atthat date, the Catholic population of Port
land was estimated to be fifteen hundred souls.
But st. Dominic's was soon destined to sub
NIT to "A division of its worshipers consequent
upon the organization of the Cathedral congre
CATION. This was accomplished upon the COM
pletion of the chapel on the Cathedral site
near to the close of the year 1856. Thus
leycd St Dominics has for nearly a score of
years afforded tolerabe accommodation, ow
ing to the fact that the Cathedral having been
constructed and dedicated for divine worship
in September 1869, many more from the old
church have been attracted thlther. With
seating capacity of less than six hundred and
fifty and parochial Catholic population of
three thousand souls, the present church is